Reuters reports Spirit Airlines passengers had their lawsuit revived by a federal appeals court this week.The passengers said the airline misled them and did not disclose carry-on bag fees when they purchased their tickets through sites like Cheapoair, Expedia, Priceline and Travelocity.A court decided those 22 passengers could sue "for breach of contract because there was no evidence that Spirit promptly notified them about the fees, and there were 'ambiguities' in the prices they would pay," the report says.The passengers said the unexpected fees could exceed the cost of their tickets, referring to them as "gotcha fees."According to Spirit's website, one personal item is included in a passenger's fare. The item is to be the size of a laptop bag or a purse smaller than 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches.The site indicates passengers must pay for any additional larger bags and the fees are based on the weight of the bags."If you know you’re going to need a carry-on or a checked bag, buy it right when you book your flight to save major moola," Spirit says on its site.The low-cost airline is accused of knowing online travel agents hide the fees that passengers would then have to pay at the airport."Spirit countered that federal law precluded the lawsuit, and that its 'contract of carriage' specifically provided that a passenger could take one carry-on bag into the cabin, for a fee," Reuters reported.The case has been returned to a U.S. district judge, who dismissed it last November.Spirit did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reports.

NEW YORK —

Reuters reports Spirit Airlines passengers had their lawsuit revived by a federal appeals court this week.

The passengers said the airline misled them and did not disclose carry-on bag fees when they purchased their tickets through sites like Cheapoair, Expedia, Priceline and Travelocity.

Advertisement

A court decided those 22 passengers could sue "for breach of contract because there was no evidence that Spirit promptly notified them about the fees, and there were 'ambiguities' in the prices they would pay," the report says.

The passengers said the unexpected fees could exceed the cost of their tickets, referring to them as "gotcha fees."

According to Spirit's website, one personal item is included in a passenger's fare. The item is to be the size of a laptop bag or a purse smaller than 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches.

The site indicates passengers must pay for any additional larger bags and the fees are based on the weight of the bags.

"If you know you’re going to need a carry-on or a checked bag, buy it right when you book your flight to save major moola," Spirit says on its site.

The low-cost airline is accused of knowing online travel agents hide the fees that passengers would then have to pay at the airport.

"Spirit countered that federal law precluded the lawsuit, and that its 'contract of carriage' specifically provided that a passenger could take one carry-on bag into the cabin, for a fee," Reuters reported.

The case has been returned to a U.S. district judge, who dismissed it last November.

Spirit did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reports.